Unofficially nicknamed as the “Federal City” and the “American Rome,” the District of Columbia is the capital district of the United States located along the Potomac River on the East Coast sandwiched between Maryland and Virginia. As the very epicenter of America’s vitality, the District of Columbia is known for being home to the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, National Mall, and of course the President’s abode at the White House. Although Washington, D.C. is smaller in area than any other state in the nation at just 68.25 square miles, the nation’s capital is home to some of the top universities in the country and is packed full of graduate nursing programs for aspiring advanced practice nurses. The following are the Master’s level nursing degree programs that have been fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) within the District of Columbia.
Catholic University of America
School of Nursing
As its name suggests, the Catholic University of America is the national university of the Roman Catholic Church and the only higher education institution in the country that was founded by U.S. bishops with the support of Pope Leo XIII. Located just a short distance away from Capitol Hill and other historical national landmarks, the university is home to more than 3,650 students on its verdant 184-campus deep in the heart of the District of Columbia. CUA is recognized for academic excellence by the 2014 edition of the U.S. News and World Report survey with a ranking as the 121st best college and 24th best college for veterans in the nation.
Established in 1935 with a long history of educating high-quality nurses, the CUA School of Nursing is also distinguished as the 64th best graduate nursing school in the United States. Offering a wide variety of undergraduate, graduate master’s, DNP, and PhD programs, the School is committed to providing aspiring nurse professionals with clinical experience in more than 100 of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s premier healthcare and research facilities, including the National Institutes of Health and the Institute of Medicine, with expert faculty or alumni preceptors.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) – Designed to prepare advanced practice nurses as primary care providers to manage the healthcare needs of individuals from late adolescence through old age, the AGNP program has a strong emphasis on health promotion, illness, prevention, and management of chronic illnesses. The program requires students to complete 38 credits and a minimum of 540 hours of supervised clinical practice in a variety of settings, including private practices, community health centers, clinics, and hospitals. Since the program meets all curriculum guidelines by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), graduates are eligible to site for the AGNP certification examination from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
MSN Advanced Public Health Nursing (APHN) – The APHN program prepares students to function as advanced practice nurses with a specialization in public health by developing skills in the assessment of communications, policy development, communication, program planning, recognition of cultural influences, and social determinants of health. The APHN program offers students two broad areas of clinical concentration, which are Global and Refugee Health and Population-Based Program Design and Management. With the goal of gaining ANCC certification, students are required to complete 47 credits and a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice. With a few extra courses, students in the program can also elect to qualify for certification as a Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PHCNS).
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – For preparation as primary care providers in private practices, clinics, community health centers, hospitals, businesses, managed care organizations, and governmental agencies, the FNP program for advanced practice nurses focuses on delivering quality healthcare to address the multitude of needs for individuals and families across the lifespan. In order to qualify for graduation and certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, students in the program must complete 44 semester credits either on-campus or online with a minimum of 700 supervised clinical hours.
MSN Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP) – As one of the oldest such programs in the nation that has been preparing practitioners for more than three decades, the primary care PNP program at CUA provides nurses with the skills to practice as advanced practice nurse practitioners with children and adolescents. In addition to traditional areas of pediatric primary care, students also gain expanded training in school-based healthcare and behavioral/mental child health in various clinical settings. Fully endorsed by the National Task Force on Quality for Nurse Practitioner Education, the program requires students to complete 39 credits and 540 hours of supervised clinical practice. Students can choose to engage in the program full-time for 15 or 20 months or part-time for a total of 36 months.
MSN Pediatric Acute/Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP) – The dual acute and primary care PNP program specializes in meeting the training needs of students who have chosen to provide care to children and adolescents under the age of 21 across the continuum of health from wellness to acute care. Building on the primary care coursework, the program also focuses on the care required by children with complex critical medical conditions. After completing the needed 44 credits and 870 supervised clinical hours, graduates are eligible to take acute and primary care examinations for certification from the ANCC and PNCB. Before being admitted, students must have a minimum of one year of nursing experience in pediatric acute care settings and PALS certification.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
District of Columbia Board of Nursing
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
School of Nursing Gowan Hall
620 Michigan Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20064
(202) 319-6462
[email protected]
http://nursing.cua.edu/graduate/msn/index.cfm
Georgetown University
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Situated on a hill overlooking the Potomac River just a few short minutes from the heart of the District of Columbia, Georgetown University is the nation’s oldest private Catholic institution that has had a shining reputation for academic excellence since 1789. As a selective elite university of more than 7,550 students, Georgetown has been ranked as the 20th best college and 24th best value school in the country by the U.S. News and World Report survey. Forbes magazine has also ranked Georgetown as the 24th best private college, 18th best research institution, and 17th best higher education setting in the Northeast.
As part of the Georgetown University Medical Center, the School of Nursing and Health Studies is located within St. Mary’s Hall on the northern side of the university’s 104-acre campus. Well-known for its collaborative learning community that develops strong connections among students, trained faculty members, and medical staff, it is recognized as the 36th best graduate nursing school with the 55th best online graduate nursing programs in the nation. Furthermore, the School is distinguished as being home to the 17th best Nursing Anesthesia program and 19th best Nursing Midwifery program in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-ACNP/CNS) – Designed to prepare registered nurses to manage the care of acutely and critically ill patients from late adolescents to the elderly and optimize patient outcomes in various healthcare organizations, the AG-ACNP/CNS program enables students to become a leader in acute care settings in just 24 months as an online part-time student. Upon completion from the 48-credit program, graduates are eligible to work in two valuable roles by taking the AG-ACNP and AG-CNS certification examinations by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – The FNP program at Georgetown aims to prepare currently licensed registered nurses to fulfill demand in the role of a competent, caring practitioner responsible for delivering quality care for families across the age spectrum in a primary care setting. Conveniently able to access coursework from anywhere from an Internet-connected computer, students in the 44-credit program can earn the specialized MSN degree in 18 months full-time or 26 months part-time.
MSN Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA) – Intended to prepare graduate to provide high-quality anesthesia services throughout surgical procedures, the 45-credit Nurse Anesthesia program follows a seven semester plan with a front-loaded didactic 40 credits in the first year and a clinical focus in the second year. The program boasts an exceptional 100 percent first-time pass rate on the examination to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and a graduate job placement record of 100 percent within just three months of completion.
MSN Nurse Educator – Offering professional nurses the opportunity to unite their clinical expertise with their passion for teaching, the Nurse Educator program prepares graduates for advanced practice roles in nursing education, educational research, and nurse educator leadership. In addition to the 35 required didactic credits delivered in an innovative online format, students engage in 275 practicum hours of developing curriculum and implementing the instruction in an affiliated academic or professional development setting.
MSN Nurse Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) – For nurses who wish to specialize in caring for the health and well-being of women across the lifespan, the dual Nurse Midwifery and WHNP program enables nurses to become leaders in a variety of primary care settings for prenatal, labor, postpartum, and gynecological care. With a seamless blend of Web-based learning in live seminars and clinical experiences arranged by Georgetown faculty, the program requires students to complete 49 credits in 18 months full-time or 24 months part-time.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA)
Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
St. Mary’s Hall Room 101
3700 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20057
(202) 687-3118
[email protected]
http://nhs.georgetown.edu/prospectivestudents
George Washington University
School of Nursing
Spread out across a 43-acre campus in the Washington, D.C. Foggy Bottom neighborhood just one mile away from the National Mall and Washington Monument, George Washington University is a private comprehensive academic institution that draws more than 20,000 students from all states in the country and around the world. Taking full advantage of its location in the midst of the nation’s capital city, GW is recognized for being the 52nd best college in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Forbes magazine also ranks George Washington University as the 41st best university in the Northeast, 43rd best research university, and 62nd top private college in the entire United States.
Although the GW School of Nursing (SON) was recently established in May 2010, the university has already made a reputation in the nursing field for developing strong leaders who are actively engaged in health promotion, patient advocacy, and healthcare innovation. With SON programs offered both online and on-campus at two locations in the capital, the U.S. News and World Report distinguishes it as the 50th best graduate nursing school with the 16th best online graduate nursing programs in the country. Also, the School’s MSN programs have been ranked 5th for faculty credentials and student engagement as well as 12th for student services.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) – The AGPCNP program at George Washington provides the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for nurses to advance their scope of practice and become leaders in the primary healthcare of patients across the adult age continuum. Encompassing the management of care for adolescents starting at age 12, adults, older adults, and frail elderly patients, the rigorous curriculum seamlessly integrates research, policy, technology, simulation, and evidence-based clinical nursing practice. Students complete all coursework online and the 600 required hours of clinical practicum rotations in their local community with supervising mentors.
MSN Clinical Research Administration (CRA) – Within a rapidly growing field that involves the processes for building product and treatment protocols for patient care, the Clinical Research Administration program focuses on regulatory requirements, ethical issues, business of clinical research, and procedures for product development. With full or part-time program options available through a convenient online format, the CRA program encompasses 36 semester hours, including six credit hours of hands-on research experience.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Designed to prepare registered nurses for leadership roles in the primary care of individuals and families across the lifespan, the FNP program focuses on integrating both didactic and clinical experiences to deliver high-quality patient-centered care for the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health of families. Within the 48 required online course credits and 750 hours of supervised clinical practicum, students gain expertise in pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, health maintenance, and diagnosis or management of common primary care medical conditions.
MSN Health Care Quality – Through the innovative online program in Health Care Quality, nurses are able to advance their careers in patient safety leadership, management, and research. In partnership with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the program intends to meet the growing need for quality and patient safety specialists who can improve the patient outcomes of healthcare organizations. For successful completion, students enrolled in the program must complete 36 credits, including six credits of research courses, 12 credits of professional core courses, and 18 credits of courses in quality and safety.
MSN Nursing Leadership and Management – In order to develop competent nursing professionals to fulfill the skyrocketing demand for nurse administrators, the Nursing Leadership and Management program is designed to prepare graduates for upper-level positions by enhancing the depth of their leadership skills. The curriculum is strongly focused on business functions in clinical practice management, including marketing, financing, budgeting, economics, research methods, human resources, strategic planning, and proposal development. Within the versatile distance-based online format with a few selected on-campus experiences, students are required to complete 36 semester hours either full-time or part-time.
MSN Nursing Midwifery – Offered in collaboration between George Washington University and Shenandoah University, the MSN concentration in Nursing Midwifery prepares graduates as nurse midwives who are eligible to sit for national certification by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Within the flexible online two-year full-time or three-year part-time program, nurses develop a broad understanding of women’s health through the lifespan, including antepartal, perinatal, postpartal, and neonatal care in the birthing process. In addition to 49 credits in didactic coursework, students actively participate in 800 clinical hours of practice.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
2030 M Street NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 994-7901
[email protected]
http://nursing.gwu.edu/msn-program-online
Howard University
College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
Designated as a top-tier research university by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Howard University is a comprehensive private institution located in the center of Washington, D.C. As a historically black college first founded in 1867, the university provides a culturally diverse educational experience of exceptional quality to its more than 10,500 students. According to the 2014 edition of the U.S. News and World Report survey, HU is ranked as the 142nd best college and the 3rd best historically black university in the nation. Forbes magazine also recognized Howard University as the 128th best college in the Northeast, 240th best private college, and 145th top research university in the nation.
With the purpose of developing nurses at the bachelor’s and master’s level who can competently and efficiently address the diverse and complete health care needs of the District of Columbia society, the Howard University College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences has a long history tracing back more than four decades to 1969. Fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the College is ranked as the 234th best graduate nursing school in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – As a traditional program exclusively for registered nurses who already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the FNP program is designed specifically to prepare advanced practice nurses for primary care provider roles as Family Nurse Practitioners. The curriculum is designed to achieve the core competencies required for the advanced role, whereas the number of clinical hours offers students supervised practice in the field. Students can participate in the 46-credit hour program either full-time or part-time to achieve the MSN degree and become eligible for national certification by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
MSN Nurse Educator – With the goal of preparing students for full-time teaching in nursing instruction settings and taking the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination, the Nurse Educator program is offered solely to incoming graduate students who already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Within the 39-credit program, students take coursework in pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment, curriculum development, instruction teaching, nursing research, health care policy, clinical evaluation, and interdisciplinary health care ethics. After completing two years of study full-time or three years of study part-time, graduates can begin teaching in academic and clinical settings, including staff development, community education, and continuing education programs.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Contact Information
516 Bryant Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20059
(202) 806-7460
[email protected]
http://healthsciences.howard.edu/education/schools-and-academics/nursing-allied-health/division-of-nursing/prospective-students/programs/graduate-programs/graduate-tracks